Wesley Griffith, the remand prisoner who attacked his accuser in court last month, was yesterday sentenced to five months imprisonment.
City magistrate Geeta Chandan-Edmond, who handed down the sentence, said that in mitigation the court considered that Griffith had pleaded guilty to the charge at the first given opportunity, saving the court considerable time in otherwise having to conduct a trial.
Listing the aggravating circumstances, however, the magistrate said that at age 19,
Griffith is expected to know the consequences of his actions and she further noted that he has a host of other matters pending before the court.
Griffith accepted that on June 20, he unlawfully assaulted Derrick Halley. He had pleaded guilty to the charge at his arraignment before Magistrate Chandan-Edmond but sentencing was deferred to yesterday to facilitate the presentation of a probation report.
At the time of the assault, Griffith was being tried for robbing Halley before Magistrate Judy Latchman in Court Three of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court
It was alleged that on June 26, at Georgetown, he robbed Halley of a cellphone and a quantity of cash, all totalling $277,000 in value and that at the same time, immediately before or after used personal violence in the commission of the crime.
On the day of the attack, the matter had been stood down for a brief moment while Magistrate Latchman went into her chambers. It was during this time that Griffith scaled the prisoners’ dock and attacked Halley, who was sitting in the public gallery. He dealt him several cuffs about his face and body. He later apologised to the court and the complainant for his actions.
“I just frustrated being in prison all the time on remand, remand,” he said.
He explained to Magistrate Latchman that before the attack he was asking Halley whether he [Halley] knew him. Griffith said that instead of being given an answer, Halley “just suck he teeth and turn away.”
Griffith then said, “meh worship, I geh vex after he suck he teeth when I ask he if he know me.”
He added, “He ain’t answering me, he just deh sucking he teeth on me,” “and I just jump out the docks and cuff he in he face.”
He said he has a host of other charges before the courts and to have had another laid against him was disturbing.
“I don’t know where this charge come from to come on me now,” a visibly distressed Griffith said. The trial is still ongoing.
